Removable Bladder Neck Implant With Low-Pressure Expansion Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implants for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are ineffective in treating an elevated bladder neck due to localized pressure that can denature tissue, and their use can be detrimental.
Innovation Solution
A removable implant with a plane pressure means structure that exerts localized but low surface pressure on the bladder neck, using a holding means for insertion and removal, and optionally a biodegradable material or shape memory alloy for gentle deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a wire structure implant is used to expand the bladder neck, then the bladder neck can be opened, but the localized pressure causes tissue denaturation and ischemia which is harmful
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into multiple individual wires or struts that can be independently adjusted or removed. This segmentation allows the force to be distributed across multiple contact points rather than concentrated at a single location, reducing the risk of localized tissue denaturation while maintaining overall expansion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant utilizes shape memory alloy properties to change its mechanical parameters (shape, stiffness, expansion force) in response to temperature changes or other stimuli. This allows the implant to apply gentle, controlled pressure that expands the bladder neck without exceeding the threshold that would cause tissue denaturation, dynamically adjusting parameters to maintain therapeutic effect while avoiding harm.
2Device complexity
If three wires arranged at 120° are used, then the implant structure is simple, but the pressure is highly localized and unsuitable for treating constricted bladder neck
Solution Approach 1:
The implant transitions from a two-dimensional wire arrangement to a three-dimensional structure with multiple wires or struts extending in various directions. This dimensional expansion increases the surface area of contact with the bladder neck tissue, distributing pressure more evenly across the constricted area rather than concentrating it at discrete points, while maintaining relatively simple construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is designed to be adjustable or expandable after insertion, allowing the number, arrangement, and positioning of pressure-applying elements to be optimized for each patient's specific anatomy. This dynamic adaptability enables the same basic structure to provide distributed pressure for different bladder neck constriction patterns without requiring completely different implant designs.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the implant is left in place for extended periods, then tissue denaturation is enhanced for BPH treatment, but the risk of complications increases and removal becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is designed with self-indicating features that allow the treating physician to monitor tissue response and treatment progress without removing the implant. Sensors or visual indicators on the implant can detect tissue denaturation stages, inflammation levels, or structural changes, enabling the physician to determine the optimal removal timing based on actual tissue condition rather than fixed time schedules, thereby maximizing therapeutic effect while minimizing complication risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant incorporates feedback mechanisms that provide real-time or periodic information about the state of the treated tissue and the implant's own condition. This feedback loop allows for dynamic adjustment of treatment duration and timing of removal, ensuring that the implant remains in place long enough to achieve therapeutic effect but is removed before complications arise, optimizing the balance between treatment duration and safety.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The implant effectively treats bladder neck constriction without tissue denaturation, offering precise and customizable pressure application and potential medicament delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a removable implant (10) with a pressure means structure (15) for expanding the bladder neck of a person. The pressure means structure (15) can be connected to a holding means (14) for handling. This holding means (14), which may be a wire or a thread or a rod
Implementation Method 2
The pressure means structure exerts a local pressure on the tissue of the bladder neck. This plane pressure means structure only leads to a low surface pressure that does not correspond to the ischemic pressure
Data Source
AI summary
An implant with which a bladder neck can be treated in a simple and reliable manner. This is achieved by an implant, in particular a removable implant, having a pressure structure for expanding the bladder neck of a person. This pressure structure exerts local pressure on the tissue of the bladder neck. The pressure structure can be connected to a holding for handling. This holding, which may be a wire or a thread or a rod, can be used to insert the implant or the pressure structure through the urethra into the bladder neck and, if necessary, to retrieve the pressure structure from the patient's body after the end of the treatment.